Locking device for milk-cans



(No Model.)

B. WHITSON.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR'MILK cA'Ns.

No. 339,829. Patented Apr;2 13, 1886.

j, a@ am,

Qi/gen- UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

EDVIN VHITSON, OF WOODSTOOK, ILLINOIS.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR MILK-CANS.

SPECIFICATION fom-ling part of Letters Patent No. 339,829, dated April 13, 1886,

Application led August 18, 1885. Serial No. 174,706. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN WHITsoN, of loodstock, county of McHenry, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking Devices for Milk- Cans, ot' which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, that will enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this spccilication.

This invention relates to means for securing the cover on milkcans5 and it consists in certain novel features in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure l is a sectional view of a milk-can embuding my improved features; Fig. 2, a perspective ofthe lug D, and Fig. 3shows the cover removed i'rom the top of the can and held in a suspended position ou the side.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the milk-can, B the neck, and O the removable cover. The inner tlattened perforated end of the curved lug D is riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the cover O, as shown in Fig. l. rlhe outer projecting end of this lugl is provided with the opening a, through which the upper bii'urcated end ofthe bracketE projects when the can is closed. The lower end ot' the bracket E is rigidly secured tothe outside of the neck ofthe can. The 'am end a' of the locking-lever F is pivoted in the upper end of the bracket E, and has a bearing in the concavity c? of the lug or ear D, thus having a clamping or wedging function when locking the cover in a closing posi tion. The opposite con veX surface, c3, of the lug D bears against the rim c at the saine time, as shown in Fig. l. The opposite end of the lockinglever F terminates in the enlarged coiled end chwhich serves to retain the cover in a suspended position at one side of the can when the sameis uncovered, as shown in Fig. 3, thus preventing the cover from being separated and lost. /Vhen the can is closed and the eoverlockedin place, the lever F is in the position shown in Fig. l. Now, to

remove the cover, raise the locking lever up to the position indicated by the dotted lines, when the cover may be raised, the lug D clearing the upper end of the bracket E and passing down on the lever F to thc opposite position shown in Fig. 3, and retaining the cover in position for immediate use.

Oans used in shipping milk are subjected to pretty rough usage., and are often tipped over, and under ordinary circumstances the cover is forced off, spilling a greater part ot' the contents before the can is restored to its proper position. By this arrangement it will be readily observed that the cover is very securely locked, and cannot be forced off by the tipping over ofthe can. The second feature--i that of retaining the cover so that the same cannot be entirely separated from the canis alsovery important, from the fact that the empty cans being returned to the point ot' shipment are tossed around in a loose 1nanner, and the covers lost or stolen, which causes considerable annoyance and loss.

The locking device will ordinarily be composed ot' some suitable cast metal, is easily and quickly attached, and adds but little, it' any, to the usual cost of the can.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a locking device for milk-cans, the combination, with the neck B, ofthe cover O, the lug or ear D, rigidly secu red to said cover and provided with the opening a, the bracket E,y secured to the neck of the can, and the locking-lever F, pivoted to said bracket, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a locking device for milk-cans, the combination, with the cover O, of the lug or ear D, having the concavity al and the conveXity a, the bracket E, and the lockinglever F, provided with the cam end a', whereby said cover is securely locked in a closed position, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a milk-can, of the cover O, the lug or ear D, provided with ythe opening a, the lever F, having the enlarged or coiled end d, and the bracket E, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

EDVIN VHITSON.

XITitnesses:

A. LEvINsoN, FRANK SPITZER. 

